Shibuya Park
1
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Kotaro

♪——! ♪——!

2
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Tatsuya

So this is Mita's new song.

I've been thinking for a while now that he produces some pretty good stuff.

3
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An

Yeah, it totally feels like Kotaro, you know? And it's really easy listening because he isn't trying to do anything too complicated.

4
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Akito

I agree. Mita's song provides a nice contrast to EVER's more straight-up rock sound.

5
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Arata

He seems to have taken a pop approach with his sound selection, and he's done a good job of nailing everything down. Plus...

6
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Kotaro

Hey, everyone, we're just getting started!

7
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Arata

He appears to have used less sound in some parts to make way for these gaps. His goal must be to use these parts to get the listener more excited.

8
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Toya

Yes, he's placed the audience at the forefront. It's like he trying to reach out to them through his music...

9
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Toya

(I have a feeling that Mita had no trouble with the theme we decided.)

10
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Toya

(After all, he's very good at interacting with the audience. He wants the listener to hear a certain thing and react a certain way...)

11
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Toya

(As much as I want my song to move someone's heart, I never once thought about who I'm trying to reach.)

12
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Kohane

When I decided that I was going to make my own track, I wanted you guys to feel something special when you listened to it...

13
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Kohane

That's why I chose to turn the moment I met An for the first time into a song.

14
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Kohane

My goal was to express the incredible joy and excitement I've felt every single day since she introduced me to the world of music.

15
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Toya

(Come to think of it, Azusawa said something similar.)

16
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Toya

(Then, where does that place me?)

17
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Toya

(What is my sound about?

Who am I writing this song for?)

18
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Arata

Okay, I'll go next.

19
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Arata

♪——! ♪——!

20
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Toya

You never cease to amaze.

It's powerful and very striking, but the finer details are also worth noting.

21
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Kohane

How did you put your new song together so quickly?

22
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An

Yeah, after saying that it was coming along “okay” just the other day. It sounded essentially complete.

23
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Tatsuya

Yeah, it probably doesn't need much work. Meanwhile, Mita, myself and my team still have a lot left to do.

24
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An

We're in the same boat...

Not only that, Arata's track is really good.

25
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Akito

You've captured what's trending right now, but it also naturally meshes well with your own style.

26
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Akito

And it's a simple sound with no complicated bells or whistles attached. You made this with a clear goal in mind, and you did it in a clever way...

27
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Akito

We gotta keep doing what we can for our demo.

The next day
Hospital
28
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Toya

...is how practice went yesterday.

The others' new songs seem to be coming along well.

29
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Soma

Yeah, and you guys don't have much time left until your next event.

30
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Soma

And you're here helping me.

Even though it's crunch time for you guys right now. I kinda feel bad.

31
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Toya

No, please don't feel bad. I'm the one who initially asked you to do this.

32
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Soma

To tell you the truth, having you help me like this has been pretty huge.

33
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Soma

The ideas I've been coming up with have been really fine and detailed, which meant that I needed to figure out a way to express them...

34
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Soma

And you inputted all the right sounds before I even said anything.

35
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Toya

Yes, well... That may be because I'm getting more used to how you undergo this process, Soma.

36
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Soma

This is more than good intuition.

You totally have a talent for this.

37
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Soma

I couldn't have asked for a better assistant. If it were just me working on this, Aoyagi, I probably wouldn't even be halfway done.

38
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Toya

I'm glad that I could be of so much help. It's also been a wonderful learning experience for me.

39
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Soma

Really? It doesn't feel like I've been doing much teaching... But it'd be really great if this song ends up being as good as what the others are making.

40
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Soma

I bet they all came up with some really good ones. Am I right?

41
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Toya

Yes, Tono's song felt especially powerful. He managed to capture such an aggressive sound.

42
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Soma

Whoa, he wrote that kind of song?!

Vivid BAD SQUAD's not gonna let him hog all the glory, right?

43
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Toya

About that... I want to do the song Akito and Shiraishi are writing justice by putting on the best performance I can.

44
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Soma

It's scary because you can't let your guard down. I felt the same way when we formed our team.

45
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Toya

You did?

46
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Soma

Yeah, since Arata was always the better performer. He definitely stood out more than me.

47
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Soma

But I didn't want him to hog the spotlight, so I always did my best to make myself heard after he got the crowd's attention.

48
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Soma

Even though I knew that Arata was out of this world, I also wanted to shine.

49
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Soma

Then, he said he really liked the suggestions I made for this one track I talked to him about.

50
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Soma

He told me, “I like this, Soma. I want to try singing it.”

51
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Soma

That was when I realized how my tracks were and are still meant for Arata. Whenever he feels motivated to sing something, he always puts on a mind-blowing performance.

52
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Soma

Remember how you said you want to be more of a contributor, Aoyagi? I feel the same way.

53
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Soma

I want to help Arata as much as I can, and I decided to finish the track I was working on before my accident.

54
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Toya

Even now, you see Tono as the invaluable partner you can't be without.

55
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Soma

...

56
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Soma

No, that's not true.

57
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Soma

I'm not Arata's partner anymore.

58
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Toya

Huh...?

59
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Toya

What do you mean by that...?

60
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Soma

Because this body of mine is keeping me from singing or standing on the same stage as him.

61
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Soma

I'm even making this song for Arata to sing. Unlike in the past, I can't perform it while standing next to him.

62
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Toya

...

63
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Toya

(Is that really true...?)

64
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Toya

(Based on what I've heard, this song didn't give me that impression...)

65
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Toya

(No...

I may be jumping to the wrong conclusion...)

66
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Miku

That means you have the power to truly understand what a person's music is about, Toya.

67
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Kohane

I was really happy when you said that you understood how I felt, Aoyagi.

68
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Toya

I...

69
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Toya

I heard otherwise... This song told me that you still want to perform alongside Tono.

70
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Toya

I felt this desire to keep chasing after the person in front of you. To go wherever you can together and keep pushing each other to higher ground. That's what I took away from your song...

71
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Soma

How...?

72
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Toya

Because I...

73
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Toya

(Now I understand...)

74
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Toya

Which is also the reason why I can't make them wait more than they need to. I want to show them some good results.

75
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Toya

(Soma's wishing for the same thing.

That explains why this song resonated with me so much...)

76
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Toya

I too have a partner that I can't be without. That may be why I was able to arrive at this conclusion.

77
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Soma

...

78
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Soma

I see...

Next Chapter: Now It's My Turn